[BadWolf]

lol, jesus christ guy... why are you hanging out in shanghai to begin with? You should put yourself up in a small one bedroom apartment in Nanjing for 1000 RMB a month and game girls with 10 rmb in your pocket.

The only tea Chinese drink now is MILK TEA.

I'll be up around Nanjing in Feb if you want to toss me an email.

[Expert Commander]

This was quite a blow to my self-esteem. But I am shaking it off and getting back out there. I guess I never thought something like this would happen to me. Last time I got scammed was in Vietnam when some kids asked to shine my shoes for a dollar. When they finished they demanded 20. I ended up giving them 3 or 4. These girls just didn't look like people I had to be worried about. I think I needed this wake up call. I try to see the good in people too much.

[Beyond Borders]

(12-21-2012 12:03 AM)Expert Commander Wrote:  

This was quite a blow to my self-esteem. But I am shaking it off and getting back out there. I guess I never thought something like this would happen to me. Last time I got scammed was in Vietnam when some kids asked to shine my shoes for a dollar. When they finished they demanded 20. I ended up giving them 3 or 4. These girls just didn't look like people I had to be worried about. I think I needed this wake up call. I try to see the good in people too much.

Ah, shucks, Man - you make me feel bad for chastising you.

Don't let it touch your self-esteem; let it make you a little street wiser. We've all done stupid shit we shouldn't have on the road, and we'll probably continue to do so. You just need a better plan for avoiding stuff like this in a new place.

Don't let it hurt your faith in people either - part of traveling is realizing there are shit people and there are good people in every culture on Earth. Those girls were shit, but don't forget that every person does what they do because they've found a way to rationalize it to themselves.

Deep down, those girls don't feel they are bad people (read the first chapter of "How to Win Friends and Influence People" for more on this). And they've likely got good in them too. You can see the good in people without making yourself vulnerable.

That's my pep talk for the day. Now shake it up to a learning experience and move onward.

[Expert Commander]

Nah man I needed that chastisement so I am on the lookout for these types of things and don't give the time of day to girls that hideous. Rather get it on this forum than from my mates back home. They would give it to me much worse.

[Beyond Borders]

(12-21-2012 12:41 AM)Expert Commander Wrote:  

Nah man I needed that chastisement so I am on the lookout for these types of things and don't give the time of day to girls that hideous. Rather get it on this forum than from my mates back home. They would give it to me much worse.

Wouldn't have been much better off if they were good-looking - except they might have gotten you 3X...

Here's some quick reading since, I assume, you're still in China.

http://www.china-mike.com/china-travel-t...ing-scams/
http://wikitravel.org/en/Common_scams

[Vicious]

This is the oldest scam in the book in China. I can't imagine how you've been gone there with zero research.

[dirtypurist]

Dude...

[K-man]

I was in Shanghai just last week, and here is what I posted about it:

(12-14-2012 10:01 AM)K-man Wrote:  

A lot of scammer girls there who approach you, I was careful to avoid those but almost fell into the trap of one whom I approached. She was so convincing in playing the role of a student girl out to have some fun that I even walked with her for a couple blocks until she stepped into this tea house with no price list and no other customers in it and said let's get something to drink, I was out of there with a quickness.

I had fun with some of the other scam girls, though. Well, they are not really scammers because it is pretty clear what their job is, namely the bar girls who entice the customers to spend more at the bar.
Quite a few of these in Shanghai, when you are in certain bars girls would come on to you, chat you up, lay their hand on your shoulder, and after one minute ask for a drink.
Make sure you ask the bartender how much a girl drink costs (something like 50 RMB is what I paid, which is $8) and that buys you some time with the girl during which you can feel her up, have her massage your neck, etc. Tell jokes, they will laugh at even the stupid ones. You can get two girls to feel like a baller.
They will tell you the same shit you heard from the tea girls - like how handsome you are, how much fun they are having you, etc. Yeah it's all fake but it is some cheap fun compared to buying the same $8 drink for some American broad and not even getting any thanks back but just attitude.
I went twice to such bars in Shanghai, not my first preference but as you say on a dull day what else you gotta do - watch movies in your hotel room?
On one of these instances I took two of these girls upstairs to the pool room and had my hand down one's pants and in her pussy, then I unzipped my fly and let them handle my cock. They also dance for you and entertain you otherwise. It cost me about the same as getting a couple lap dances at a strip club in America but I think it was more fun.
Again, I am not putting this in the "Game" category. Unless you are trying to shore them, or running "Luigi Riga game" - flash them your hotel card (better be nice) and say you'll pay them - then when you're done kick them out without paying - what are they gonna do about it? I didn't notice them having any pimps.

[Tenerife]

(12-21-2012 12:03 AM)Expert Commander Wrote:  

This was quite a blow to my self-esteem. But I am shaking it off and getting back out there. I guess I never thought something like this would happen to me. Last time I got scammed was in Vietnam when some kids asked to shine my shoes for a dollar. When they finished they demanded 20. I ended up giving them 3 or 4. These girls just didn't look like people I had to be worried about. I think I needed this wake up call. I try to see the good in people too much.

Rule of thumb: NEVER trust people who approach you in the street. They are guilty until proven innocent. But most of the time, like 90 percent, they are there to scam you or have some sort of selfish motive.

[Spike]

(12-21-2012 03:29 AM)Tenerife Wrote:  

(12-21-2012 12:03 AM)Expert Commander Wrote:  

This was quite a blow to my self-esteem. But I am shaking it off and getting back out there. I guess I never thought something like this would happen to me. Last time I got scammed was in Vietnam when some kids asked to shine my shoes for a dollar. When they finished they demanded 20. I ended up giving them 3 or 4. These girls just didn't look like people I had to be worried about. I think I needed this wake up call. I try to see the good in people too much.

Rule of thumb: NEVER trust people who approach you in the street. They are guilty until proven innocent. But most of the time, like 90 percent, they are there to scam you or have some sort of selfish motive.

@Expert commander. This was shocking to read. You got scammed by Vietnamese kids for a shoeshine? Dude, you damn sure need a wake up call. I had my Nike Air Max sneakers shoeshined and the soles repaired with glue for a dollar in the most touristic area of Saigon aka Scam city. And that's well overpaid for Vietnamese standards. I had a gf in Nha Trang who worked 12 hours a day in a restaurant for 30 days for not even 40 dollars. Now compare that to your 5 minute shoeshine.

You're being way too nice and I think you're a major push over. It's good that you came to this forum because you will read a lot of stuff that will Man you up.

In fact, I'll advise you to whop out the 7 dollars and buy my (e)book because that one will give you a lot of REAL travel and budget advice and will probably save you a lot of money.
I never bluntly promote my book like this but you damn sure need to read it if you want to keep traveling in South East Asia without getting scammed or tricked by girls.

[Expert Commander]

Update:

I looked up the scam some more online and found this Lonely Planet thread:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/th...ID=1792617

Full of guys and some girls who fell for the same thing and way more helpful than most of you ball breaking douche bags.

One guy fell for it at the exact same place, the "Champs Elysee" mall. He then described how he went back and demanded a refund. I couldn't remember exactly where this place was but thankfully he included a map. After reading his story and remembering to ask for more than the 700 I paid I sacked up enough to go back and demand a refund.

I took along the jar of tea I "bought" and walked over there not sure what I was getting into. I arrive at the shop at about 615 pm and its dark. I think shit I will have to come back tomorrow. Then an old man appears from behind the door and starts to lock up. I ask him if he owns the place and say I want a refund. He speaks no english but has obviously seen the scorned white tourist before. He gets on his phone. I have no idea who hes calling and start to think about bailing. After 3 minutes he hands me the phone and a woman answers in english. I tell her I want 1000 rmb back because I was ripped off and I talked to the police, etc. She says if I give the tea back she will give me 300 rmb. I tell her I know this is illegal and I want a full refund of 1000. After some more threats of going to the police (who I know dont care about this) the woman says give the phone back to the man. They chat again for another 5 minutes and I am feeling more anxious. The old man gives me the phone back and the woman says I must show her the pictues I took the day before. So I show the old man the pictures. At this point 3 guys in their 20s or 30s show up and ask me to sign my name if I want a refund. I sign some fake name on a piece of paper. They tell me that they have a record of somebody paying 700rmb the day before and I can only have that much back! So they do keep records. I just say fine give it to me. I hand over the tea and the old man takes out a wad of cash and gives me 7 100rmb notes.

I turn heel as fast as I can and walk out of there. As I head home I am feeling a little better finally. Then another thought creeps into my head: counterfeit notes. I quickly stop in a 7-11 to buy a bottle of water. I hand one of the 100rmb notes to the cashier and watch as she puts into a bill counting machine. As she puts the bill in the register and gives me my change I am extremely relieved.

Still a tough and needed lesson learned but at least now it was a much less expensive one.

[Spike]

Well, those "ball breaking douchebags" are trying to help you out. Maybe our choice of words is not he nicest but we're still trying to give you some well meant advice. This is a game forum, there are not many "nice guys" around here.

Don't take it too hard on yourself. You're not the only one. I also had stuff stolen from, got pick pocketed twice, lost a phone and nearly got stabbed and beaten up once or twice.
And I'm a very suspicious and skeptic guy so you can imagine what happened to millions of other travelers around the world. It's part of society, learn to live with it.

Anyway, good luck.

[Expert Commander]

Not all of you are douche bags. Just some. For all the help that was given much thanks.

[trainwreck]

you just got hustled by 3 zombie looking chinks, ask for help and then go around calling people trying to help you douchebags. Looks like you deserved it. learn from it and stop trusting random people you meet on the street in foreign countries.

[Beyond Borders]

(12-21-2012 06:43 AM)Expert Commander Wrote:  

Update:

I looked up the scam some more online and found this Lonely Planet thread:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/th...ID=1792617

Full of guys and some girls who fell for the same thing and way more helpful than most of you ball breaking douche bags.

One guy fell for it at the exact same place, the "Champs Elysee" mall. He then described how he went back and demanded a refund. I couldn't remember exactly where this place was but thankfully he included a map. After reading his story and remembering to ask for more than the 700 I paid I sacked up enough to go back and demand a refund.

I took along the jar of tea I "bought" and walked over there not sure what I was getting into. I arrive at the shop at about 615 pm and its dark. I think shit I will have to come back tomorrow. Then an old man appears from behind the door and starts to lock up. I ask him if he owns the place and say I want a refund. He speaks no english but has obviously seen the scorned white tourist before. He gets on his phone. I have no idea who hes calling and start to think about bailing. After 3 minutes he hands me the phone and a woman answers in english. I tell her I want 1000 rmb back because I was ripped off and I talked to the police, etc. She says if I give the tea back she will give me 300 rmb. I tell her I know this is illegal and I want a full refund of 1000. After some more threats of going to the police (who I know dont care about this) the woman says give the phone back to the man. They chat again for another 5 minutes and I am feeling more anxious. The old man gives me the phone back and the woman says I must show her the pictues I took the day before. So I show the old man the pictures. At this point 3 guys in their 20s or 30s show up and ask me to sign my name if I want a refund. I sign some fake name on a piece of paper. They tell me that they have a record of somebody paying 700rmb the day before and I can only have that much back! So they do keep records. I just say fine give it to me. I hand over the tea and the old man takes out a wad of cash and gives me 7 100rmb notes.

I turn heel as fast as I can and walk out of there. As I head home I am feeling a little better finally. Then another thought creeps into my head: counterfeit notes. I quickly stop in a 7-11 to buy a bottle of water. I hand one of the 100rmb notes to the cashier and watch as she puts into a bill counting machine. As she puts the bill in the register and gives me my change I am extremely relieved.

Still a tough and needed lesson learned but at least now it was a much less expensive one.

Way to take initiative and gain back some pride. Very well done.